Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the holiday shopping season is coming up fast! If you’re looking for a new tablet for yourself or someone else this year, IntoMobile is here to help you out and show you your best options for this holiday shopping season. Whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or just same games and apps, we’ll have you covered in the coming weeks!
Last week we looked at our top five smartphone picks and now, we are showcasing our top five tablets for the year!
Jump To :
Introduction – Top Smartphones – Top Tablets
Nexus 7
The Nexus 7 delivers a knockout punch with its superb hardware and rock-bottom price. It’s the perfect companion device to any Android handset and an excellent tablet for savvy users. Starting at $199 for a WiFi-only model with 16GB of storage, you can’t go wrong with the Nexus 7. Mobile users can can grab a cellular (GSM) model that starts at an affordable $299.
Quick Specs
Screen: 7-inch 1280×800 IPS, HD display (216 ppi)
Processor: NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor
Camera: 1.2MP front-facing camera
RAM: 1GB
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Unlocked GSM/UMTS/HSPA+
Storage : 16GB, 32GB
Operating System: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Size: 198.5 mm x 120mm x 10.45mm
Weight: 340 grams
Kindle Fire HD
Amazon’s Kindle Fire was the first, inexpensive Android tablet to hit the market in mid-2011. It was popular last holiday season and its successor, the Kindle Fire HD, promises to be another big hit for Amazon. The Kindle Fire HD doesn’t have the raw processing power of the Nexus 7, but it does have a huge ecosystem of apps, movies, TV shows, books and music thanks to Amazon. It’s also ships with parental controls, which makes it the most kid-friendly tablet in mix. It’s an excellent choice for customers who have bought into the Amazon ecosystem (Prime members have access to free content) and for parents.
Quick Specs
Screen: 7-inch 1280×800 IPS, anti-glare display or 8.9-inch 1920×1200 IPS, anti-glare display (254 ppi)
Processor: Dual-core, 1.2GHz OMAP4460 in 7-inch model; Dual-core,1.5GHz OMAP4470 in 8.9-inch model
Camera: Front-facing HD camera
RAM: Unknown
Connectivity: Dual-band, dual-antenna WiFi 802.11 b/g/n (4G LTE available only in 8.9-inch model)
Storage : 16GB or 32GB in 7-inch model, 32GB or 64GB in 8.9-inch LTE model
Operating System: Android with Amazon Kindle enhancements
Size: 193 mm x 137 mm x 10.3 mm in 7-inch model; 240 mm x 164 mm x 8.8 mm in 8.9-inch model
Weight: 395 grams in 7-inch model; 567 grams in 8.9-inch model
iPad with Retina Display (Fourth Generation)
The Fourth Generation iPad is the Mercedes Benz of tablets. It’s a powerhouse with Apple’s own dual-core processor and a quad-core graphics chip that’ll handle any game thrown at it. It’s roomy, high-resolution screen is gorgeous and its build-quality is top-notch. All this performance comes at a cost, with the base 16GB, WiFi-only model starting at $499. The top model with cellular connectivity and 64GB of storage will set you back a hefty $829. If your wallet can handle it, then you should strongly consider the iPad with Retina display. It is hands-down the best, full-sized tablet on the market.
Quick Specs
Screen: 9.7-inch 2048×1536 IPS, Retina display (264 ppi) with fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Processor: Dual-core A6X with quad-core graphics
Camera: 1.2MP FaceTime HD Camera front-facing camera with 720P HD recording and 5MP iSight rear-facing camera with 1080p HD video recording
RAM: 1GB
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Cellular models with either GSM/UMTS/HSPA+/LTE or CDMA EV-DO/GSM/UMTS/HSPA+/LTE
Storage : 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
Operating System: iOS 6
Size: 241.2 mm x 185.7mm x 9.4mm
Weight: 652 grams
iPad mini
The newly released iPad mini presents a compelling option for customers who already own an iOS device or a Mac computer. The mini is not as powerful as the 9.7-inch Retina iPad and not as inexpensive as the Nexus 7, but it is a sweet device that borrows its looks from the iPhone 5. It’s thin and lightweight design makes it perfect for both reading on the couch and using it on the go. The mini won’t break any land speed records with its A5 processor, but it’ll handle all your basic tasks like email, web browsing and casual gaming. It’s a great companion to the iPhone 5 and its $329 price tag makes it an affordable option for iOS customers who are unsure about dropping $499 or more on a Retina iPad.
Quick Specs
Screen: 7.9-inch 1024×768 IPS display (163 ppi) with fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Processor: Dual-core A5
Camera: 1.2MP FaceTime HD Camera front-facing camera with 720P HD recording and 5MP iSight rear-facing camera with 1080p HD video recording
RAM: 512MB
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Cellular models with either GSM/UMTS/HSPA+/LTE or CDMA EV-DO/GSM/UMTS/HSPA+/LTE
Storage : 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
Operating System: iOS 6
Size: 200 mm x 134.7mm x 7.2mm
Weight: 308 grams
Microsoft Surface RT
Microsoft’s new Surface RT tablet is an interesting device that’s part tablet, part desktop computer. It’s 10.6-inch size makes it easy to port around, yet it’s Windows RT operating system lets you work with desktop-style apps like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote RT. Early reviews on the tablet are mixed, but customers should take a look at the device themselves instead of relying totally on someone else’s opinions. For Windows users or Windows Phone owners, the Surface RT may be the perfect device to meet your tablet needs.
Quick Specs
Screen: 10.6″ ClearType HD Display, 1366×768
Processor: Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3
Camera: Two 720p HD LifeCams, front- and rear-facing
RAM: 2GB
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Storage : 32GB, 64GB; microSDXC card slot
Operating System: Windows RT
Size: 10.81 x 6.77 x 0.37in
Weight: 1.5 lbs